I’m trying to decide whether to convert my 1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto headlights to recessed Euro-spec or keep the U.S.-spec chrome trim under the plexi covers. While admittedly a first-world problem, I have been vexed by this question since I purchased my car in 2014. My car, S/N AR661909 (and […]
Keith Martin
Keith’s Blog: Jeff Zurschmeide’s Portland Swap Meet Report
The Portland Swap Meet has been on hiatus for the past two years, for obvious reasons. It’s been a long and boring pandemic, so this year’s event was highly anticipated, at least by me. The swap happens at the Portland Expo Center, with five large buildings and the entire parking […]
Keith’s Blog: Citroën vs. Jaguar, Part II
Last week I described taking the 1971 SCM Citroën DS21 Pallas for a drive. My son Bradley accompanied me. He is gradually developing a tolerance – if not yet an affection – for the oddities the Citroën presents. After our morning drive, we topped the tank off with non-ethanol gas […]
Keith’s Blog: 109 vs. 272
Three things came together this weekend to let me exercise two SCM cars. First, the weather was perfect. Well, perfect for Oregon in March: Overcast, about 50 degrees and occasional light sprinkles in the forecast. Second, both the 1971 Jaguar V12 2+2 and the 1971 Citroën DS21 Pallas were in […]
Keith’s Blog: The Wikipedia of Classic Cars
Eight-hundred and forty-six. That’s the number of comments I have made on Bring a Trailer auctions. My auction handle is “330America.” I chose this name to commemorate the Ferrari 330 America I pulled out of a barn in Montana 30 years ago, used starter fluid to get running, and drove […]
Keith’s Blog: The Never-ending Stream of Cars
Blame it on the “alerts.” Being able to select “notify me when one comes up for sale” on a collector car auction website has surely changed collecting more than anything else. In just the past few days, listings on Bring a Trailer have included these Alfas: A Junior Zagato, a […]
Keith’s Blog: Classic Car Tours 2.0: The Next Generation
I’ve been going on classic car tours since 1992. I started with the Mille Miglia, which was a pretty swell way to begin. That was followed by the California Mille, the Monte Shelton Northwest Classic, the Colorado Grand, the Argentine Millas, Tour Auto, the Modena Cento Ore and more. Over […]
Keith’s Blog: The SCM Fleet is Fully Operational
With the stuck float needle fixed on SCM’s 1971 Citroën DS21 Pallas, the entire SCM fleet is fully operational and ready for more long drives in the coming warm and sunny months ahead. To that end, Publisher Martin is taking a well-deserved week off from his regular blog. Check back […]
Keith’s Blog: Low-Riders, Lambos and 911s
From Lamborghini Huracans to 1300-cc Alfa Supers, it’s been a car-centric weekend. But first, am I the only one who noticed the classic low-rider Chevrolet convertibles in the Super Bowl halftime show? Or the VW Thing in one of the ads? Is this Gen-X nostalgia? My weekend started with a […]
Keith’s Blog: Why We Call a 31-Year-Old Car “New”
I’ve only put a few miles on our recently acquired 1991 Alfa Spider S4. With just 22,000 CARFAX-certified miles, it’s like new. In fact, its “newness” is a little unsettling. The basic underlying 105-series chassis first entered production in 1964. I don’t know if any other new car sold in […]